Last season, Orioles prospect Colton Cowser and Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson competed in a “build-off” of a LEGO Millennium Falcon, which is 7,541 pieces.
This season, Cowser and Henderson are competing against one another in another build-off, this one of The Razor Crest, which is 6,187 pieces. Triple-A Norfolk began a homestand on May 16, giving Cowser a chance to get going on his new project.
“I don’t think The Razor Crest is going to take me as long [as the Millennium Falcon]. It seems like it’s going to be a little bit easier of a build,” Cowser said on Glenn Clark Radio May 17. “I know Gunnar’s already started on it, so he’s off to a head start. I won last year, so he’s a little bit bitter about that. We were on the road last week, so he went ahead and got a head start.”
Though Cowser and Henderson are trying to beat each other to the finish line, they’re not going overboard in that quest. They have to be sharp when they head to the ballpark, after all.
“We’re trying to enjoy the build as well, so it’s not like we’re really trying to finish as quick as we can, stay up all night,” Cowser said. “Since I didn’t get to start to build and he built earlier, I told him not to send me any pictures because I don’t want to be spoiled.”
It’s more of a way to take one’s mind off of baseball after a long day at the park.
“It’s a good decompression tool that I use,” Cowser said. “I have a bad game, I just come back, sit at my desk and take my mind off things and throw a little TV show on and start building. It’s just a really good reset.”
Fortunately for Cowser, he hasn’t had many bad games to decompress from this year. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound outfielder is hitting .331/.469/.554 with 16 extra-base hits for Norfolk entering play May 18. The 23-year-old has already earned International League Player of the Week honors two times this season.
Cowser is hardly the only one hitting the cover off the ball for the Tides. Infielders Ryan O’Hearn and Joey Ortiz have earned opportunities in Baltimore with their play at the Triple-A level, and infielder Jordan Westburg shouldn’t be far behind, either.
Norfolk is 30-10 on the season, and Cowser loves the vibe.
“Hitting has been kind of contagious throughout our lineup, so it makes you a little bit more relaxed when you know that there’s other guys in the lineup that can pick you up if you struggle,” Cowser said. “If you are contributing well, then you’re going to be helping the team win.”
Cowser’s time to make an impact at the major league level may be fast approaching. The Orioles have given Adam Frazier, Ryan McKenna, Anthony Santander, Kyle Stowers and Terrin Vavra time in right field this year, though Santander has gotten some run at first base of late. The door may be cracking open for a regular right fielder.
In the past, players like Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and Santander were given extensive opportunities to develop at the major level in part because the team was so bad. Now, young Orioles are expected to contribute to a winning team after being promoted. Cowser isn’t shying away from those expectations.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a little bit of pressure, but I think that that’s when you just have to kind of rely on the work that you put in and be able to trust your ability and that the organization believes in you that you’re able to go up there and contribute and help the team win,” Cowser said. “I think that you’ve just got to kind of go out there and continue to play your game. Just because the lights are a little bit brighter, you’ve just got to be able to calm yourself down, you know?”
Cowser has played mostly center field throughout his minor league career, but he’s ready to play a corner in the big leagues with Mullins in center.
“Growing up, I played corner outfield. As I started to develop a little bit of speed, I got moved over to center field. I’m used to playing the corners,” Cowser said. “I’m used to playing center field now. Again, there’s just a little bit of different things that go on in the corners that don’t really happen in center. It’s not too crazy of an adjustment.”
For more from Cowser, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Scott Sears